| What
to do if your Child Needs Help |
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If your school-age child is experiencing significant academic difficulties, request a conference with his or her teacher. Your child's teacher is a valuable resource who can shed light on his or her day-to-day educational performance. If you believe your child's school problems are the result of a disabling condition,
you may request a referral to the school's Child Study
Committee.
The committee may suggest intervention strategies and/or determine what evaluation components are needed to determine if your child is eligible for special education. Your written consent is necessary before any new assessments are administered that will be used to determine special education eligibility. Any additional information you may have regarding your child's performance (i.e. educational evaluations, reports from physicians) is welcome, as well as your own perceptions of his or her strengths and weaknesses.
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| If the Child Study Committee refers your child's case to the Office of Special Education, the Special Education Eligibility Committee has 65 business days to complete any requested evaluation components and arrive at a decision regarding your child's eligibility for special education. |
The Eligibility Committee will review all requested evaluation components and determine if your child meets eligibility requirements in one or more of the following areas:
| Autism
Developmental
Delay
Emotional
Disturbance
Hearing
Impairment
Mental
Retardation
Multiple
Disabilities
Orthopedic
Impairment |
Other Health
Impairment
Severe
Disability
Specific Learning
Disability
Speech and Language
Impairment
Traumatic Brain
Injury
Visual
Impairment |
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| If the Eligibility Committee determines that your child is eligible for special education services, a school-based team, comprised of the student's
parent(s), general education teacher, special education teacher, principal or administrative designee, the student when appropriate, and any other individuals the school or parents determine to be knowledgeable about the child, meets to develop an
Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The IEP describes the student's present levels of educational performance and the individualized program required to meet his or her unique needs resulting from a disabling condition. The student's IEP is reviewed at least annually; However, any member of the IEP team may request an IEP meeting at any time to discuss its appropriateness.
For further information regarding the special education process, contact the Director of Special Education at (757) 494-7600. |
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